Alexandra Murphy

Alexandra Murphy is a freelance writer for the Pioneer Press.

Kristin Anson, an elementary school teacher at St. Norbert Catholic School in Northbrook, is one of 30 finalists for the 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching. (Golden Apple Foundation)

Northbrook teacher Kristin Anson, at St. Norbert’s, named finalist for Golden Apple award

March 17, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

Northbrook teacher Kristin Anson, at St. Norbert's School, named a finalist for the Golden Apple award.

Aliaa Ibrahim, principal at Rutledge Hall School in Lincolnwood School District 74, is one of seven finalists nominated for a Golden Apple award for Excellence in Leadership (Golden Apple Foundation)

Lincolnwood principal Aliaa Ibrahim nominated for Golden Apple leadership award

March 16, 2026 at 1:08 p.m.

Lincolnwood School District 74 principal Aliaa Ibrahim has been nominated for a Golden Apple leadership award.

Jerika Gill, a special education teacher at Julia S. Molloy Education Center in Morton Grove, is one of 30 Illinois finalists for a 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching (Golden Apple Foundation)

Morton Grove special ed teacher Jerika Gill nominated for Golden Apple award

March 2, 2026 at 4:16 p.m.

Jerika Gill, a special education teacher at Julia S. Molloy School Education Center located in Morton Grove, has been nominated for a 2026 Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching....

Northbrook JCC security guard Todd Kosloske, center, and local swimmer Jim Pines, at right, receive awards on Feb. 21, 2026 for helping save Michael Kreda, in white shirt, from a cardiac arrest. Kreda's wife Noreen Kreda helped organize a community event at the JCC to teach CPR to anyone interested. (Alexandra Murphy/for Pioneer Press)

After being saved from cardiac arrest death in Northbrook, Deerfield man promotes CPR training

February 26, 2026 at 11:57 a.m.

After being saved from cardiac arrest death in Northbrook, Michael Kreda of Deerfield and his wife Noreen promoted CPR training.

Female student athletes from many high schools across the north suburbs attended EmpowerHER, a conference to empower and inspire young female athletes, on Feb. 16, 2026 at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, part of Glenbrook High School District 225. (Alexandra Murphy/for Pioneer Press)

Female high school athletes gather at Glenbrook D225 for empowerment, inspiration

February 18, 2026 at 3:18 p.m.

Female high school athletes gathered at Glenbrook South in D225 for the EmpowerHER conference for empowerment and inspiration.

LaKisha David, a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, lead in the TAKiR project, is taking DNA samples from African Americans in Illinois to use in scientific analysis to determine their geographic origins in Africa and possibly connect them with living relatives. She updated Evanston City Council on Feb. 5, 2026, at Evanston City Hall. Photo was taken at City Hall on July 3, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. ( John Konstantaras-Pioneer-Press )

Evanston Reparations OKs payments to descendants, gets update on DNA connections with Africa

February 9, 2026 at 8:30 a.m.

Evanston’s Reparations Committee announced Feb. 5 it will issue reparation payments to 44 additional descendants this summer, while providing an update on its DNA Roots Program and exploring a potential...

The Board of Education for Evanston/Skokie School District 65 voted on Nov. 17 to keep Kingsley Elementary School open, but in January voted to close it. A new Board member, Chris Van Nostrand, is joining the Board and may affect voting outcomes going forward. (Richard Requena/Pioneer Press)

Evanston-Skokie District 65 gets a seventh member; will be able to break tie votes

February 9, 2026 at 6:11 a.m.

Evanston-Skokie District 65 gets a seventh member, Chris Van Nostrand; he will be able to break tie votes.

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